R-5 board tables vote on district improvements

Friday, December 16, 2011

By Ralph Pokorny/Nevada Daily Mail

Nevada R-5 patrons will have to wait a bit longer to find out what, if anything, the Nevada R-5 Board of Education is going to build next. During Wednesday's regular monthly meeting the R-5 School Board voted 7-0 to table a scheduled vote on a district facilities improvement project until a special meeting. They also voted 7-0 to table a vote on a bond underwriter for the project and consideration of the draft ballot language.

The board has been holding work sessions for the last couple of months to discuss several options for a facilities improvement project. The options range from building a new high school for about $20 million, which is unlikely, to renovating the auditorium at the high school to increase seating and renovating the gymnasium. Other projects under discussion include a combined performing arts center and gymnasium, a stand-alone performing arts center, a stand-alone gymnasium or a new elementary school on property the district owns north of the high school. Building a new high school would likely require the purchase of additional property.

The board also voted 7-0 to approve adding a boys swim team in the fall of 2012.

"We've had questions every year since I've been here about the feasibility of adding boys swimming," Dr. David Stephens, R-5 superintendent, told the board.

"The start-up cost is about $17,000," Stephens said.

This will include the coach, uniforms and transportation.

It will not cost the district anything to hold practices at the YMCA because of an agreement between the YMCA and the school district to allow R-5 swim teams access for practice Stephens said.

The curriculum at the Nevada Regional Technical Center will be undergoing a change following the board's 7-0 vote to end the industrial manufacturing program and to add a welding technology program at the recommendation of Teresa Stark, NRTC director.

Based on the demographics of the area and the results of surveys from students and parents Stark told the board that she felt that welding technology would be the best fit for the students.

"I'll be able to absorb all the cost of the program in the budget I have," Stark said.

She told the board that Brian Hollands at the Missouri Welding Institute is willing to help get the program going.

After an executive session the board voted to accept the retirement of long-time NHS history teacher Lois Pendrak, effective at the end of this school year. They approved the retirement of bus driver Louis M. Wait, the resignation of freshman volleyball coach Erin McCullough and approved hiring Heather Davenport as a para professional at Truman.

The board also approved the termination of Heartland para professional Luke Rainey.

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Interesting, I do believe one of the fine outstanding people who tried to close NEVC and merge with Nevada R-5 to the people at the time that Nevada had no intentions of building a new school. Interesting how the truth has a way of coming out when those involved think the rest of us have forgot what they tried to do. Wonder how the banking business is these days. We will never forget.

-- Posted by truthseeker67 on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 4:30 AM
I will actively work against a new building. Enrollment is stagnant and projected to remain that way. We don't need more space.

-- Posted by sam floor on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 6:43 AM
I hope the voters remember a few years back. When the school board bought that now, deemed worthless Burruss property, while they were claiming to be broke and were laying off teachers and janitors.

-- Posted by sam floor on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 8:07 AM
Get your facts straight about the purchase of the Burrus property. Ask someone who knows how much they gave for the Burrus property!!!

-- Posted by bobiboo on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 9:28 AM
Doesn't matter what they gave for it. They bought it while they were claiming to be broke and cutting back on teachers. Now the engineers say it's too expensive to build on. Meanwhile, there is a lot on Hickory that they have tried to buy for years. The owner says they have pressured him for more than 10 years. But don't want to pay what it's worth.

-- Posted by sam floor on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 10:14 AM
Where is the Burrus property and what makes it to expensive to build on? If you know that the engineers have told the school this you should know why.

-- Posted by ccmom on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 10:38 AM
Also, what did the school pay for that property? I am asking because I don't know, not to be smart with you.

-- Posted by ccmom on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 10:40 AM
First, sam floor will not have time to "politic" against a new structure because he is too busy being a negative naysayer on EVERY subject the paper reports. Also, our school district did not terminate any jobs, but did tighten their belt by redistributing the duties of a few positions when they became vacant.I think this was wise.

Also, our kids need a new performing arts center. We have A LOT of kids that work hard in band, choir, debate, and theater. They have a talented group of teachers and they have experienced much success. Our current auditorium is uncomfortable, needs new technology and if you renovate you still have an old auditorium.

I will full heartedly support our district if they choose a new auditorium! It benefits a lot of kids and adults!

-- Posted by geminiliterally on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 12:16 PM
What needs to be done is allow the public to see what all the options are and what would be the best way forward. Show depictions of these improvements from the new school to the stand alone buildings. Let the tax payer decide, after all it is my property taxes that go to this school district.

Without more information I would vote against a new school. I have beeen in the high school recently and the structure appears perfectly fine, renovation would be the way to get the most bang for the dollar.

17k to start up a swim team? what are they needing to spend that on, how much do speedo's cost? And why is it only a boys swim team do the girls not want one also? What happened to title 9?

-- Posted by endersgame on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 12:41 PM
A few years back, the school district terminated all janitors that were nearing enough time to qualify for retirement. They cut some school nurses and eliminated some teaching positions.

I don't know what they paid for the property but a couple weeks ago, there was a story in the paper where consultants told the school board that the property needed too much work to take care of the gullies and that building on it was not cost effective.

-- Posted by sam floor on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 12:45 PM
Two of the suggestions have been, tear out the new gym, which was recently reroofed or Dig out the thermal wells and build there. These are two of the most recent improvements to the school.

-- Posted by sam floor on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 1:18 PM
FYI: In regards to the swim team, there has been a girls swim team for quite some time. The boys swim team is an excellent addition to NHS! And there is alot of expense that goes into any swim team, not just for the Speedos!! Oh, and FYI, a female Speedo suit that is suitable for racing can cost $80-$100 for a mediocre racing suit.

-- Posted by nevmofe1 on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 3:01 PM
I have nothing against starting a boy's swim team. Go reread what I posted. I said nothing against it. Just don't think we can afford or need a new building.

-- Posted by sam floor on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 5:51 PM
crazy just simply crazy im going to throw this out there and im sure get plenty of back lash for it so i will say im sorry now but instead of this preforming arts building how about inproving the football fields bleachers has anyone seen what webb citys bleachers look like these bleachers were there when i was in school here and i graduated in 1989 i say this cause how much money does the band bring in or the choir compaired to the football team and now that we got a great coach and wonderful player lets show them were behind them do you know what kind of improvements we could make to that field and bleachers for 1/4 of what the school board is trying to get out of us just a thought

-- Posted by 3D-shooter on Fri, Dec 16, 2011, at 11:38 PM
3D I'll not call you stupid but uninformed, been on a school board and see what sports cost, they no where near bring in the money the district spends on them, as for a new performing arts, heck yes over redoing a football field already in use and the kids can play. Give these talented kids a place to be free and express themselves and feel good about themselves. Put in order what needs to be done, one winning season don't mean put all your eggs in one basket. Baby steps and I thing the performing arts come first in this debate.

-- Posted by jormancat on Sat, Dec 17, 2011, at 7:32 PM
well i knew id catch you know what for what i said and thats fine so heres another shot at it how about doing both it seems like the school board has all the money that they wanna spread around build the fine arts building and make some improvement to the field as well if we can pay twice the amount that a piece of property is worth why not build both cause i will agree 100% the seating in the auditorium need improving i will say this as for the talented kids both in preforming arts and sports so lets look out for all of the kids not just preforming arts

-- Posted by 3D-shooter on Sat, Dec 17, 2011, at 11:34 PM
Why don't we just save the money and use some to improve our teaching techniques? We have kids who graduate who still can't read,count money, or do simple math problems. I think we should think about our kids future not what our buildings look like. If we do have to spend money I for one feel it should be on a Fine Arts building. The students who will be using this building are more likely to get a scholarship to a college for what they learn there...not too many of our athletes get scholarships for sports from our high school. I do feel we should keep some money back for the future economy situation as it seems to be still going down...who knows all of us taxpayers may not be able to pay our outrages school tax..

-- Posted by tobeornottobe on Mon, Dec 19, 2011, at 7:44 PM
The kids who graduate and still can't read, count money or do simple math problems probably come from homes where parents don't care if they are at school, never attend any school functions, and aren't involved with their child's education. The skills taught at school should be reinforced at home. Those children who have home support, get planners signed, have parents who care, are the ones who have no problem reading, counting money and doing simple math. These kids do their homework!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Posted by wootwoot on Fri, Dec 23, 2011, at 8:54 PM
I am currently attending Nevada High School as a sophomore, and I think I may have a few valid points some adults may have over looked. If you don't understand how we can't afford a new school building, (Which I agree we need.) maybe go ask Dr. Stephens to see one of the 30 new ipads we acquired for the school. I don't see what teaching value they, true they are handy for teachers, and some groups such as yearbook, but I would prefer something every student could enjoy. Like a new auditorium. The auditorium is nasty and frankly smells weird... The school is falling apart and something needs to be done....If you walk down the halls you can even see the cracks in the walls .....and almost every faucet drips in almost every bathroom.... Truly annoying. Almost half of the toilets are out of order on any given day.... So I understand were the school board is coming from we need a new school, and I think we probably do have the money, we just aren't looking hard enough.

And about the boys swim team... I think it's a great idea. Go get em' boys! LET'S GO TIGERS(:

-- Posted by NHSHIGHSCHOOLER on Sat, Dec 24, 2011, at 3:06 PM
to those who say no to a new school or that the kids aren't smart enough to need a new school. Look at what NHSHIGHSCHOOLER has told you the conditions are like that they have to deal with every day. Seems to me the kids would be thinking that the adults in their lives don't care enough about them to ensure they have a nice place to learn. How can you expect them to care and try hard if you don't care enough about them to give them a decent place to study. This whole country should be ashamed that some 3rd would countries have better schools than than we do.

-- Posted by thoth2011 on Fri, Dec 30, 2011, at 3:18 AM
A new school is illogical if one considered what we just spent renovating the existing school. The other problem is drainage. The majority of the north side of Nevada drains through this property. We have seen how they deal with such drainage problems in the past at Truman. What would they do with the existing high school? If you want to go on the performing arts band wagon then why not fix the auditorium inside the school even if we take out some seats? As to what they have to go through as students there, I believe it will be exactly what they make of it. A quality education has little to do with facilities and technology opposed to students with respect and a desire to learn meeting teachers who love what they do. The class sizes are decreasing or maintaining size. So is this really about kids or a superintendent with a penchant for padding his resume with building projects.

-- Posted by USS_Missouri on Mon, Jan 2, 2012, at 3:32 PM

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